Scale Games – My Laughable Behaviors

Sunday, July 28, 2013

I weigh myself every day….
…in the morning.

I could probably write this entire blog about all the reasons why it is not a good idea to weigh myself daily.
A weekly weigh-in would more than suffice to indicate any progress made toward my weight loss goals.

A weekly weigh-in would work -- if I were at all rational about the subject.
I admit that I am not.

This summer I am working on changing a lot of old bad eating habits, and each morning, I want immediate feedback for the previous day’s efforts.

In an obsessive-compulsive sort of way, I weigh myself every morning.
And I don’t weigh myself just once; I do it four different times.

And here’s the rub: each time I weigh myself, I get a different result.

The first weighing takes place after I have removed my pajamas and just before I put on the clothing I will wear on my morning walk.

The second weighing takes place after my morning walk just before I hop in the shower. I am usually down at least half a pound from that earlier first weigh in.
(I attribute this to lost water weight from the walk.)

The third weighing takes place after I have showered. I kid you not; the scale consistently goes down another half a pound to a pound after that shower.
(Could it be from ridding myself of all that perspiration on my skin?)

The fourth and final weighing also results in at least another half pound down.
That one is done – believe it or not – after I have blown dried my hair after the shower!

I know, I know -- a reasonable person might ask how did I even discover this difference?
To be honest, I conducted a little experiment one morning after I saw the scale went down after my shower but while my hair was still filled with water.
Would it go down again once the water was out of my hair?
The answer has consistently been yes.

To be fair about it– before I record any new weight on the SP tracker – I make sure that the loss takes place on all four of those weigh-ins.

But really, I ask you -- How crazy am I?

I am thinking now that another behavior I will change this summer will be to limit the morning scale games.

I will pick just one of those times to weigh myself each day– and then --
WALK AWAY FROM THE SCALE!

WATERMELLEN
I definitely go through phases of repeated daily weighing with many variations including standing on one foot!!-- and phases of not weighing for weeks . . . so I totally get it. Whatever works!1759 days ago

PMFISH
I used to weigh every morning, but now more like once a week and lately it is going for once a month. I have found do not weight in the afternoon or evening, because I am always 5 pounds heavier than the morning. You have to do what you are comfortable with.1760 days ago

MOBYCARP
I weigh myself several times a day. The one I count as official is right after I get up and use the restroom, wearing my sleeping underwear. The reason that one is official is it's the closest I can get to a consistent weight from day to day. I originally picked it years ago in the belief that it would be my lowest weight of the day and I couldn't cheat and show a weight loss by changing when I weighed.

I now know that I can show a lower weight from water loss after a substantial exercise session; but I don't really care about that. I'm in maintenance, and I'm looking for a consistent weight to show trends rather than a bragging rights weight.1760 days ago

BOOKAPHILE
I also weigh daily (only once, though, lol.) When I was losing, I wanted the immediate feedback, but there wasn't a direct correlation between what I ate and exercised one day and what the scale said the next. Now that I'm in maintenance, I find that the correlation is much closer. Do what makes you happier to continue with your plan.1760 days ago

FIFIFRIZZLE
Lol! You are SO NOT ALONE. Here's another one for you, the low gravity area in your bathroom! Every bathroom has a magic spot where gravity is not the same as it is in the rest of the house...1760 days ago

HOLDINGMYOWN This is SOOOOO funny! I try for weekly weigh-ins but do find myself on the scale other days! When the scale goes UP...LOL...I tend to stop for a few days!! LOLIf it goes down...I tend to get on the next day!

KANOE10
I have weighed myself at 4 in the morning and then continue to do so until 6. We can all be a little crazy with the scale. I like the weightgraphers.com to keep an average.I say whatever makes you happy! You are staying accountable and on track by weighing.

KRISSYDUNN
Oh Boy, I know where you're coming from! I used to weigh several times in the morning, but the after walk and after shower weights were always higher so I stopped them. Now I weigh first thing in the morning after a potty break and go with that. My concern with weekly weighing is what if I lose during the week but I have a temporary gain on weigh in day? Then I would never know I lost! 1760 days ago

MISSUSRIVERRAT
Losing weight while you walk, I do understand. After that, really, I don't get it. Don't understand why showering would drop weight. As far as hair, you must have a lot of it if it holds that much water...so I guess that makes some sense. I know you have tested this fairly carefully, but it really does seem weird. .....unless there are towels being held or potty breaks or a beverage or something. I am wondering about that scale! Agree....pick a time and just do it once.

DEBRITA01
The scale can be so fickle...I've played similar games with the scale in the past. Now, I do weigh myself each day but only once and that will be my guideline until the next morning. My daily weigh-ins are a gauge to see how I'm progressing and if I need to make any changes. I try not to let the results affect my day otherwise. 1760 days ago